Laundry machine



P I. H. WILVSEY 1,776,405

LAUNDRY MACHINE Filed May 11, 1928 3 Sheets- Sheet l wt. 23, 1930, w s 1,776,405

LAUNDRY MACHINE Filed May 11, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Sept. 23, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE IRVEIN' H. WILSEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS LAUNDRY MACHINE Application filed May 11,

The present invention relates to improvements in laundry machines, and has particular reference to a new and improved washing machine adapted to be operated by electric power.

Various general objects of the invention reside in'the rovision of a novel washing machine whicl i is simple, inexpensive, c0mpact and light in construction, which can be made small in size, which is quiet in operation, and which washes thoroughly, gently and efficiently.

Another object resides in the provision of a new and improved washing machine having no gears, belts, or revolving members for operating the a itator.

A further ob ect is to provide a new and improved washing machine which can be assembled and disassembled with ease, which can be arranged in a compact form when disassembled so as to require a small storage space, and which is convenient to handle.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of a new and improved Washing machine in which the operating mechanism for the agitator requires no lubrication, and has no oil or grease present which might come in contact with the clothes.

An im ortant object of the presentinvention resi es in the provision of electromagnetic means for automatically operating the agitator.

' Washing machines com rise many differ: ent types of agitators; bus, the agitator ma comprise a rocking tub, reciprocating pa dles, or a vacuum cup. The purpose of the agitator is to disturb and move the water and clothes in relation to each other.

Another important object of the present invention resides in the provision in a washing machine of a new and improved agitator comprising a plunger which will float magnetically, which will rotate automatically'so as to set up disturbing eddy currents and reach all of the clothes, and which'will reciprocate without necessarily reaching its limit of movement into the clothes before starting on the return stroke.

An important object resides in the provision of a solenoid with the plunger as the 1928. Serial No. 276,861.

core, and means for automatically and periodically exciting the solenoid sufliciently to actuate the plunger, and thereby the agitator.

A more specific object resides in the provision of means for varying the current flow through the solenoid so as to periodically strengthen the magnetic field sufiiciently to raise the plunger against the force of gravity, said means being unaffected by the position of the plunger. I

Still another object resides in utilizing the heat generated in the solenoid to heat the water in the Washing machine. I

A further objectis to provide an agitator which tends to impart a rotational force to the actuating plunger through contact with the water so that after a number of reciprocations the agitator ill have turned one complete revolution, thereby reaching all of the clothes. 7

Another object resides in the provision of a plurality of independent agitating units, for example two or three, arranged in the washing machine to create opposing eddy currents thereby resulting in unusual turbulence and agitation.

, A further object resides in the provision in a laundry machine of the foregoing character of means for draining off water from the clothes in the machine, and an agitator adapted to coact with said means to pound the clothes so as to remove Water therefrom.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevational view, partially sectioned in a vertical plane, of a laundry machine embodyinv the eatures of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the machine disassembled and packed for storage.

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the agitator taken along line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic representation of the electric circuits for the solenoid.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the false bottom for v the machine.

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view on a reduced scale of a laundry machine having two agitatinunits.

Fig. 8 is a' three agitating units.

claims.

v be closed by a removable plu 13.

- for fastening'the cover 14 securely to the. con- Fig. 11 is a plan view of the machine shown inFi .10. a Y' ile'the invention is susceptible of vari-. ous modifications and alternative constructions, I have shown in the drawin s and will herein describe in detail the pre erred embodiment but it is to be understood that I do not thereby intend to limit the invention to the s ecifi'c; form disclosed, but intend to eo1v-,

er a modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as ex'presse in the appended Referringto the exemplary embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, 10 re resents a body of suitable construction. T e body may be of any suitable size, but is articularly ada ted for small sizes, and may i e of any suitab e shape. Thus, the shape of the body 10 in Fig. 1 is cylindrical, in Fig. 8 is oblong, and in I 11 is triangular. llhe body 10 may be macfe of any suitable material, and preferably is a light and rugged pail, can or container, made of metal. Suitable side handles 11 are provided .on the sides of the body for convenience in handling same. Formed in the side of the body near the bottom is a suitabledrain opening12. hich ma The container 10 is provi edwith a suitable cover 14, and in the present instance this cover iss'tamped or bulged. outwardly at a slight taper, and has a nm 15 ada ted to rest x on the upper. eripheral ed e of t e container. To provi e rigiditg an strength, the up? per peripheral edge 0 theconta1ner-10 and the outer periphery of the rim 15 are curled to form suitable beads 16 and 17 respectively. While any suitablemeans may be provided tainer v10, preferably the cover merely rests in place, wei' ht being relied on to hold the parts in place. t will be evident, from a compari-' son of Figs. 1 and 2, that the cover 14 may be",

inverted to project into the container whenthe machine is not in stor e-space. p

Suitable means is provided for agitating the water'andthe clothes. This means may comprise one or more independent agitating units, and each'unit' may comprise an agitator so as to conserve of any'suitabletype. Thus, I have shown a single-agitating Fig. 1, two agitating units 7, and three agitating'units in Fig. 10. Preferably, these units "are alike in 1 and hence only the sin le unit construction lbe specifically describe in Fig. 1 wil In the present" instance, the agitating unit of Fig. 1 is of the reciprocating plunger 18 is vertically disposed, projecting outwardly through an opening 20in the center of the cover 14, and the ag1tator19 is of the vacuum cup type.

Meansis rovided for automatically-reciprocatingt e rod '18 and the agitator 19. T is means embodies a-- device adapted to actuate the rod 18 through electromagnetic force- This force may be applied to actuate the rod 18 in both directions, but preferably is applied only toactuate the rod upwardly, gravlty being relied on to lower the rod.

Inthe present instance, this electromagnet1c means comprises a suitable 0011 of wire 21, commonly known asa solenoid, disposed about and having a close relative sliding fit with the rod 18. The :rod 18 is provided in lower and upper sections 18 and 18" which may be secured together in any. suitable manner, and which in the present instance are threaded-together as indicated at 22 to forina unitar member. The lower section 18" is made'o any suitable'magnetic material, such as iron, and in eiie'ct constitutes the core of the solenoid 21. The upper section 18 of ,the plunger rod 18 is made of suitable non-magnetic material, such as a .100 I w soured to a the outer end of theulpper section 18 is a imit the downward aluminum, and constitutes a 'su port and guide for the lower section 18;

knob 23 adapted to movement of themgitator. The parts are so proportioned that, with the] agitatorin its lowermost position, theiupper end of the v 7 lower section '18 will still project a short- "distance into the lower end'oi the solenoid 21 so that the core is never out of the field of magnetic flux. Preferably, in its upperf most osition, the agitator will be above a" suitab e water levelilas indicated at 24, so

as to entrap air on t e downward stroke.

The solenoid 21, may be of any suitable construction, and may be wound in any suite ill able manner. the presentinstance, the e coil. is wound on an inner spool 25 which" siidably embraces therod 18. Housin the,

coil is a suitable cylindrical casing 26 c osed l at its ends b up erand lower end plates 27 and 28. 'l h l letely enclosed and prote idi m, water, a i l l nous-substances.

e p ate 28' rests on'an'd is'se I I v mated to a flan e 29 onlthecover IA-about the opening 20 y an suitable means, such refera 'l ,the plate-21 is p'roperipheral p' efrom. The solenoid winding thus is m- Any suitable means may be provided for solenoid Winding is connected in a circuit (see Fig. 5) as follows: from the positive main through a wire 32, the winding 21,. a wire 33, a resistance winding 34, and a wire 35. to the negative main. The resistance winding 34 serves to prevent the solenoid from becoming excited sufliciently to raise To automatically and periodically shunt the winding 34, a temperature responsive switch subject to the heat from the winding 34 is provided. This switch comprises a bi-metallic thermostatic strip 36 connected at one end to the wire '33, and carrying a movable contact 37 on its other end. To subject the strip 36 to the heat generated in the wiring 34, the latter is wound about the strip. The contact 37 is adapted to make and break contact with a fixed contact 38 in the wire 35.

When the contacts 37 and 38 are closed, the wire 33 will be connected to the wire 35 by the strip 36, as well as the winding 34, and a heavy current will flow through the solenoid winding 21, thereby highly energizing the latter to raise the rod 18. During this period very little heat is generated in the winding 34 so that the strip 36 will cool gradually until it opens the contacts 37 and 38. The flow of current is then restricted by the winding 34 so that the winding 21 is deenergized sufliciently to cause the rod 18 to drop under the influence of gravity; During this period, the winding 34 heats the strip 36 to again close the contacts 37 and 38, where upon the foregoing cycle of operations is repeated.

. It will be evident that there is no mechanical connection between the rod 18 and the switch, that the switch is fool proof, and

thatlthe operation of the switch is not dependent on the position of the rod. Thus,

the rod 18 need not reach the limit of its downward movement to initiate the upward return movement.

The thermostatic switch for the solenoid may take any physical form, and may be housed in any suitable manner. In the present instance, the upper end of the casing 26 provides a closed annular space 39. Secured to the spool 25 in this space is an annular insulating ring or collar 40. One end of the thermostatic strip 36 is rigidly secured to one side of the ring 40 by means of a screw 41 and a spacer 42. The contact 38 issecured evident that all the electrical parts are sealed so that there is no danger of short circuiting or injuring the operator.

The vacuum-cup 19 preferably is long and narrow in construction, and comprises twoopposite and ofl-set arms 19 opening down-. wardly. The bottom of the cup 19 may be closed by a suitable apertured plate 43. The sides of the arms 19 are laterally in'cline'd so as to exert a peripheral thrust when the cup is raised. It will be evident that the rod 18 floats in the solenoid 21. If the rod 18 is cylindrical, as in Fig. 1, the peripheral thrust of the cup 19 will slowly rotate same so that in a number of reciprocations, the cup will make a complete revolution, thereby reaching all of the clothes. If the rod is not round, as, for example, where it is square to permit a practical laminated construction for improving the magnetic lifting effort, it will be held against rotation, and the thrust of the cup 19 will be imparted to the water and clothes in the container 10. On the downward movement of the rod 18, very little peripheral thrust will be exerted, since the air entrapped in the cup will prevent the Water from acting fully against the under surfaces of the inclined sides of the cup.

I Preferably, any heat generated in the solenoid winding 21 is utilized to heat the water in the container 10. To this end, the rod 18, the cup 19, and the spool 25 are made of heat conducting material so that this heat will be transmitted through the rod and the cup to the water. As a result, the temperature of the water will not drop so fast as ordinarily, if at all, during the washing operation, and

hence the washing efliciency will be improved.

legs for. spacing thefalse bottom from the true bottom of the container 10.

The wash water and rinsing water will run through the false bottom 44, and can be withdrawn freel through the chain- 12. When draining t e clothes, the on 19 may be used as a pounder to drive out t e water, the operation of the cup being substantially the same as in the washing 0 eration. Referring particularly to evident that the laundr machine may be readily disassembled, an that the only storage space required is that of the container 10. Thus the sections 18' and 18" of the rod 18 may be se arated, andthe rod removed fromthe solenoid 21. The false bottom 44 may be inverted, and the section 18 and the section 18 with the cup 19 set thereon. The cover 14 'may then be inverted with the solenoid 21 projecting downwardly into the container 10. The capacity of the laundry machine may g. 2, it will be be varied by varyin the sizes of the parts. i

The capacity may al a be varied by varying I the number of agitatingunits'. Without re-f prising three agitating units.

are spaced sufliciently so that the circles of v revolution of the cups 19 do not overlap, the

three units being arranged in triangular relation. To accommodate the agitating units, the container 10 for the two'units is oblong in shape, and the container for the three units is triangular in sha e. In the twin unit machine, a partition p ate 46 may be removably mounted between the units so as to provide a smaller machine at either end for a small washing.

Where a plurality of agitating units is employed, an unusual agitating effect is obtained. Each unit operates independently, and hence the units tend to create opposing eddy currents and to break up any swirling action of the water which might result from the regular operation of any one unit. Operation of the units need not be synchronous, or at the same speed, and the irregularity will im rove the agitation.

twill be evident that I have provided a laundry machine which is simple and inexpensive in construction, which is quiet and efiicient in operation,and which produces an unusual a ltation without injury to v the clothes. 0 machine is adapted for a large variety of sizes, and particularly for small sizes, such as are to be desired in small apartments. When not in use, the machine can be disassembled and stored away in a very small space. All of the parts are sealed and protected so that there is no danger of deterioration or burning out due to the splashing of- "water'or the presence of dirt or grit, and

there is no chance of injury or annoyance to the operator throu h electric shocks. Since the agitator has a ree floating action without mechanical connection to any actuating.

art, no gears, belts or revolving drive mem ers are provided, and no lubrication is necessary. The machinewill not clog or jam, and washes gently but thoroughly.

'. I claim as my invention:

1. A laundry machlne comprislng, in com-' bination, a container, a solenoid on said con tainer, an agitator in said container having a vertical member of ma etic material extending into the lower en of saidsolenoid, a member ofnon-magnetic material extending into the u per end of said solenoid and being operative y connected to the upper end of said first mentioned member, means on said last mentioned member adapted to engage the upper end of said solenoid to limit the downward movement of said first mentioned and Sis shown: a laundryma- These units energizing said solenoid sufliciently to raise said a itator and then deenergizing said solenoi to permit said agitator to drop.

2. A laundry machine aving, in combination, a container, a solenoid, anagitator havin a member extending into one end of said sofienoid and constitutin a coretherefor, said member being freely sli able in said solenoid,

matically and periodically energizing and deenergizing said solenoid to actuate said agitator.

and temperature res onsive means for autoing'into the 11 per end of saidsolenoid and be- I ing 0 erative y connected to the upper end of v 7 said rst mentioned member, means on saidlast mentioned member for limiting the downward movement of said first mentioned 'member, and means for periodicall energizing said solenoid sufliciently to ralse said agitator and then deenergizing said solenoid to permit said agitator to drop.

4. A laundry machine having, in combi nation, a container, a solenoid, a member extending slidably into said solenoid and constituting a core therefor, means automatically operable to periodically energize and deenergize said solenoid, said means being 0 erable independentl of said member, an an agitator operative y connected to saidmember in said container.

5. A laundry machine having in combination, a container, a solenoid rigidly mounted on said container and disposed vertically, an agitator in said container, said agitator having a rod extending slidably and rotatably into said solenoid, and means automatically operable to vary periodically the excitation of said solenoid to efiect reciprocation of said rod.

6. A laundry machine having, in combination, a container, a solenoid on said container and disposed vertically, an agitator in said container, said agitator having a rod extending into the lower end of said solenoid and constituting a ma etic core therefor, and means for perio ica1ly-exciting said solenoid to raise said rod by magnetic pull and then to permit said rod to drop by force of ravity.

7. A laun ry machine having, in combinasaid rod by magnetic pull and then to permit said rod to drop by force of gravity, and means for limiting the downward movement of said agitator so as to retain said rod within the normal field of magnetic flux of said solenoid".

8. A laundry machinehaving, in combination, a container, a solenoid on said container and disposed vertically, an agitator in said container, said agitator having a plunger extending into said solenoid, and means for periodically varying the excitation of said solenoid to effect axial movement of said rod, said agitator having a cup with inclined sides adapted to impart a relative peripheral turning force between said cup and water in this1 container upon axial movementof said ro nation, a container, a solenoid on said container and disposed vertically, an agitator in said container, said agitator having a plunger extending freely into the lower end of said solenoid and constituting a magnetic core therefor, and means for periodically exciting said solenoid to raise said rod by magnetic pull, said means having no mechanical connection with said plunger.

10. A laundry machine having, in combination, a container, a solenoid having an enclosing casing on said container and disposed vertically, an agitator in said container, at plunger operatively connected to said agitator and having a magnetic part extending into the normal end field of magnetic flux of said solenoid, means for periodically energlz ng the solenoid to raise said plunger by magnetic pull, said means being enclosed 1n said casing, and means operatively connected to said plunger and adapted to engage said casing on the downward movement of said plunger to limit said movement to a range within said field of flux. V

'11. A laundry machine having, in combination, a container, an agitator in said container, electromagnetic means, means operatively connected to said agitator and disposed in the normal field of flux of said electromagnetic means, and means for varying the excitation of said electromagnetic means to actuate said agitator.

12. A laundry machine-havin in combination, a container, an agitator in said container, a solenoid, a art of said agitator be-( 'ing disposed in the eld of flux of said solenoidand constituting-a magnetic core there for, and means automatically operableto vary the excitation of said solenoid to actuate said agitator.

13. A laundry machine having, in combination, a container, an agitator'm said container, a solenoid,.means operatively connected to the agitator and disposed in the field of flux of said solenoid, and means for automatically and periodically varying the exci- 9. A laundry machine having, in combitation of said solenoid to actuate said first mentioned means and thereby said agitator.

14. A laundry machine having, in combination, a container, a solenoid, an a 'tator in said container having a rod exten ing'into said solenoid and constituting a core therefor and means for periodically exciting said solenoid to actuate said core.

15. A laundry machine comprising, in combination, a container, and a plurality of agitating units arran ed in spaced relation in said container, eac agitating unit comprising a solenoid, an agitator having apart extending into one end of said solenoid and constituting the core therefor, and means for periodically energizing and deenergizing said solenoid, said units being operable independently so as to create opposing forces said agitator toward and from said noid mounted on said cover and being vertically disposed, said solenoid being adapted to project into said container when said cover is inverted, and an agitator in said container, said agitatorhaving a sectioned plunger extending through sa1d solenoid, the inner section being magnetic, and the outer section being nonrmagnetic and serving to hold said inner section in the normal field of flux, said agitator when dissassembled being adapted to bie stored in said container with said sole- I101 18. A laundry machine having, in combination, a 001117811161, and a plurality of agitating units'arranged in aced relation in said container, each agitating unit com rising a solenoid, an ag1tator having inchned vanes adapted to impart arotational force thereto upon movement throu h the water, and having a part extending slldably and rotatably into said solenoid and constituting the core therefor, and means for periodicall energizing and deener zing said solenoi said units being opera le independently so as to create opposingcurrents 1n the water.

19. A laundry machine haying, in combination, a container,a cover mounted on said container, said 'coverbeing reversible, a solenoid mounted on said cover and being vertically disposed, said solenoid being ada ted to project into said container when sai cover is inverted, and an agitator in'said container, sai'd agitator having a sectioned plunger ex-,

tending through said solenoid, and being.

capable of bein disassembled from said solenoid and store in said container.

tating units arranged in s aced relation in said container, each agitating unit compris- 20. A laundry machine 'ing a solenoid, an agitator having a partextending into one end of said solenoid and constituting the core therefor, and means for periodically energizing and deenergizing said solenoid, said units beingoperable independently so as tov create opposing forces in the water, and a removable partition in said container between said units.

21. A laundry machinehaving, in combination, a container adapted to contain water and electrical agitating means extendinginto said container and formed of heat conducting material, part of the'sensible heat of said electrical means being adapted to be given up to the water in the container.

22. A washing machine having, in combination, a container adapted tocontain water, agitating means in said container, and a single heat generating and operating means connected to said agitating means, the connection 'and said agitating means being formed of heat conducting material.

23. A washing machine having, in combination, a container, a reversible cover on said container, an tlggitator in said container, and means moun on said cover for actuating said agitator, said actuating meansbeing arranged to occupy the space within the con tainer when said cover is reversed.

24. Agitating mechanism of the class described comprising, in combination, a solenoid, a reciprocatory core therein, agitating means actuated by said core, and means for automatically and intermittently energizingsa-id solenold to efiectreciprocation of said core. V I

Agitating mechanism ofthe class described com ris ng, in combination, a. solenoid, a core t ere1n, ag1tating means operable by said 0 re, and a thermostatically actuatedswitch controllingthe circuit to said solenoid for automat cally and intermittently energizing said solenoid to efiect reciprocation of said core-i 26. A laundry machine comprising, in'

combination, a container, a removable cover thereon, an agitator in saidcontainer a solenoid mounted on said i cover, a core tor said solenoid connected to actuate said agitator,

and means iorautomatically and intermittently energizing said solenoid to raisecsaid. core and then releasethe core .to the action of gravity. 1 27. A laundry machine having, in combi-- fixed my signature.

contents to permit a heat exchange therebetween.

28. A laundry machine having, in combination, a container,'a solenoid, an actuator in said container having a rod extcndin' into said solenoid and constitutin solenoid to actuate said core, said actuator and said rod being made of heat conducting material to dissipate the heat generated in said solenoid.

29. A laundry machine comprising, in combination, a container, an agitator in said container having an operatin vertical member and automatic means or periodically lifting said member from any variable posi- .tion or height. y 30. A laundry machine comprising, in

combination, a container, a reciprocatory agitator 1n sald container, and automatic means for reciprocating said agitator, said means permitting the path of reciprocationto vary automatically.

31. A laundry machine comprising, in combination, a container, a reciprocatory agitator in said container, and automatic 'actuating means for said agitator, said agitaa coret ere-'- fQI, 8.Ild means for periodical y exciting sand tor and said means having a free connection permitting relative rotation, said agitator being formed with inclined surfaces tending upon reciprocationthrough coaction with the contents of said container to impart a rotative force to' said agitator.

32. A laundry. machine comprising, in

combination, a container, a reciprocatory' agitator in said container, and automatic means having a floating connection with said agitator for periodica ly imparting power impulses to said agitator tending to. reciprocate the latter without regard-tothe position of reciprocation of the latter. laundry machine comprising, in

33. combination, a container, a reciprocatory agitator in said cont-ainer,'and a so enoid actuator for imparting an impositive reciprocation to said agitator.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto af- IRVEN H. WILSEY.

nation, a container, electroma' etic means for agitating the contents of t e container,

said means being formed of heat conducting 

